HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan was honored in Dubai on Monday, presented with the Influential Personality of the Year Award at this year’s Arab Social Media Influencers Summit. by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Queen Rania seized the moment to deliver a stirring keynote address during the third annual summit, urging attendees to use digital platforms for the good of humanity, in an era of “fake news”.

“Online, the plain truth is not appealing enough to be circulated and liked or to command power in the virtual world, despite the fact that it has never been more accessible than today. The truth is losing ground to emotional rhetoric and sensational rumors,” Queen Rania stated. “We owe it to the truth to seek it out and distribute it. It might not be the most appealing or fascinating, but not all that glitters is gold. Let us aim to give truth the final word.”

Queen Rania launched her first official social media pages back in 2009, and AOC celebrated it. The royal reminded her audience that it is estimated that the average person will spend over five years of his or her life on social media. “Social media has achieved much of what we had expected from it, but unfortunately, we still managed to transfer our human barriers to this world,” HM added, exploring the ways in which digital platforms have changed from spreading hope and connecting humans in a barrier-free landscape. “We now listen not to communicate, but to respond, closing ranks and isolating ourselves among those who resemble us and confirm our own convictions.”

Moving from the downside to the positive opportunity of social media, Queen Rania urged influencers to maintain a steady focus on positive change.

Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan's commitment to girls' education runs very deep. Asking two weeks ago if the future is still female, Forbes writer Beth Doane profiled five women leaders, including Queen Rania. And there is exciting news to learn that Queen Rania has joined Michelle Obama's Let Girls Learn initiative, recently profiled here on AOC.

In these days before Donald Trump's inauguration as President on Friday November 20, and theWomen's March in DC on Saturday, November 21, women's rights are in a state of undefined flux in the new Trump administration -- one that is fundamentally opposed to feminism and any formalized commitment to women's rights as part of its legislative agenda.

We will see which Trump appointees stand for an expansion of women's rights at home and abroad versus those who seek to redefine them in a way that rolls back the clock.

Many women's groups and female leaders will be leaning on Ivanka Trump to persuade her father to veto key pieces of Republican legislation unless the proverbial add-ons are removed. Whether she is up to the task -- or her father has the stomach for the fight -- remains to be see. In my own view, the odds are against us. ~ Anne

Jordan’s Queen Rania delivered the comments above and many more, via satellite to the Government Summit in Dubai on Monday, February 2009. Queen Rania was originally scheduled to attend the conference but has remained in Jordan as her husband King Abdullah moves to lead Jordan’s attacks on ISIS over the death of Jordanian pilot Captain Muath Al Kasaesbeh.

Discussions on the future role of governments in this summit could not have come at a more pressing time, said Queen Rania. “We need to act. We are in a race against time to adopt policies and address the priorities which confront us today — most importantly to eliminate the ideology of hate and terrorism.”

She emphasised the need to change education policies in the Arab world to ensure quality education that instils true values of religion, patriotism, coexistence and hard work in the new generations.

To capitalise on the full potential of countries in the Arab world, new policies that foster talent and innovation should be adopted to guarantee enough job opportunities for youth to enter the labour market, said Queen Rania.

Policies should ensure the fair participation of all members of society, women and men, from all ethnic and religious groups, she said.

Many Americans were surprised to learn that the UAE had grounded its military strikes against ISIL/ISIS after the capture of Jordan’s pilot Captain Muath Al Kasaesbeh, unsatisfied with America’s sufficient rescue support systems in the region. The US military rejects the idea that changes were made in response to the UAE action — arguing that rescue support plans were being reshuffled anyway.

The UAE squadron of war planes is striking ISIS targets from Jordan, where they will remain. We currently can’t confirm if Mariam al-Mansouri, who previously led the United Arab Emirates fighter jets attacking ISIL/ISIS is in the new squadron.

I moved to 90 West Street from Jersey City in 2005, wanting to live close to the rebirth of the World Trade Center Area. The events of September 11 had affected me deeply, standing at a municipal building in Jersey City watching the Towers fell. Three of the terrorists lived a few blocks from me, although my beautiful loft was an oasis of its own and I didn’t interact a lot with my community.

My heart was very heavy on September 11, 2001 as I gasped at what was happening. Many people cheered when the World Trade Center towers fell. They weren’t terrorists — at least I doubt it — but the moment was one of understanding just how complex life had become in America. This complexity has only become more difficult in America and globally in the last decade and a half.

London Centre on Women, Peace and Security at the London School of Economics

Jolie, a special envoy of the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, announced today the creation of a new center that will educate students about the participation of women in “conflict-related processes” and “on enhancing accountability and ending impunity for rape and sexual violence in war,” according to a press release from the London School of Economics.

The Centre is a collaboration among LSE, Mr Hague, Ms Jolie, and the UK Government. Angelina said:

“I am excited at the thought of all the students in years to come who will study in this new Centre. There is no stable future for a world in which crimes committed against women go unpunished. We need the next generation of educated youth with inquisitive minds and fresh energy, who are willing not only to sit in the classroom but to go out into the field and the courtrooms and to make a decisive difference.”

In one of the most poignant images of Jordan’s Queen Rania that I’ve seen, Jordan’s First Lady comforts the devastated Anwar Tarawneh, widow of Moaz al-Kasasbeh, the captive pilot burned alive by ISIS. The couple were married for only five months, when her husband ejected from his fighter jet in a raid on ISIS.

Reports are that Tarawneh learned of her husband’s death in a Facebook post saying ‘Rest in peace, Muath (Moaz)’, a story she relayed to Queen Rania at her home near the southern town of Karak.

On a related note, AOC has consistently covered the brave Kurdish women fighting ISIS in Kobani (Kobane). We are saddened to report that Hebun Sinya, a prominent leader in the YPJ — the women-only offshoot of the Kurdish YPG group and about one-third of the forces fighting in Kobane — was killed in the final fight to push ISIS out of Kobani (Kobane).

Hebun Sinya, also known as Hebun Dêrik, was a prominent figure within the YPJ - the woman-only offshoot of the Kurdish YPG group that has represented about one-third of the fighting force that has retaken control of Kobani

Following the release of a video showing a group of IS masked terrorists burning Kasasbeh alive, the Jordan Armed Forces-Arab Army (JAF) issued a statement saying that the officer was killed on January 3, nine days after his F-16 crashed over Raqqa in northeast Syria

In his statement, aired on Jordan TV, King Abdullah described IS as a cowardly terrorist group that has nothing to do with true Islam, praising Kasasbeh as a brave pilot who was fighting in defence of Islam, his country and his nation.

The Royal Court announced that King Abdullah would cut short his visit to the US, with the White House announcing an unscheduled meeting between the King and President Barack Obama in Washington later Tuesday before the King’s departure.

In its statement, the army vowed a response that is “proportionate to the magnitude of the tragedy of all Jordanians”, according to the statement read on Jordan TV by JAF Spokesperson Colonel Mamdouh Ameri.

A similar reaction was echoed by Government Spokesperson Mohammad Momani, who said several measures will be taken by the Kingdom to respond to this brutal group.

In a statement aired by Jordan TV, Momani said that Jordan’s response to the assassination “will be swift. Jordanians’ wrath will devastate Daesh’s ranks”.

Addressing those who had doubt about the brutality of IS, the minister said what the group did is proof of such brutality.

“For those who used to believe that this group represents Islam, this is the proof, and for those who had doubts about the unity of Jordanians against this evil, we will show them what unity we have.”

He added that Kasasbeh does not belong to one tribe or one governorate, but to all the Jordanian people.

In particular, AOC sends deep regrets, sorrow and love to Queen Rania, one of the core muses behind Anne of Carversville.

We also pray for all the Jordanian pilots named in today’s ISIS video, with a price having been put on their heads, while names and addresses were printed for mass consumption around the world.

This is an attempt by ISIS to bring down the government of Jordan, one of the most stable countries and sources of refuge first out of Palestine — and now Syria — in the world. 20% of your population is now refugees from other countries. We pray also that the US and other countries give Jordan the aid it needs to sustain this grave humanitarian challenge.

Indeed, you are a mighty and wonderful advocate for a better life on this planet, Queen Rania. You, your husband and family, and all the Jordanian people with your incredibly-rich history are very deep in our thoughts, hearts and prayers tonight. ~ Anne

Coming Soon

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